Hamburger Mary's vs Culver Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Hamburger Mary's vs Culver including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Hamburger Mary's Franchise
Culver Franchise
Investment $417,150 - $955,500$2,349,000 - $5,356,000
Franchise Fee $50,000$55,000
Royalty Fee 4% (on first $150K monthly gross), 3% (on monthly gross above $150K)4%
Advertising Fee -2.5%
Year Founded 19721984
Year Franchised 19991988
Term Of Agreement 5 years15 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years15 years
Renewal Fee -$30K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Hamburger Mary's Franchise
Culver Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • One partner must have bar/restaurant management experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Hamburger Mary's Franchise
    Culver Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoNo/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
    Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
    Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
    Receivables No/NoNo/Yes
    Payroll No/YesNo/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Hamburger Mary's Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    Training --
    Support Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluationsNewsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing -Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    Operations 8% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 40 - 50

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Hamburger Mary's Franchise
    Culver Franchise
    US Expansion -Yes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Hamburger Mary's

    Started in San Francisco in 1972, Hamburger Mary's serves homestyle meals prepared using fresh and healthy ingredients, including low-fat beef, farm-fresh chicken and turkey, and salads, as well as desserts including carrot cake, snicker's pie and cheesecake. The restaurants include a full bar and a kids' menu.

    About Culver

    After working with his parents in their restaurants, Craig Culver decided it was time to open one for himself. In 1984 Culver, with the help of his wife Lea and parents George and Ruth, transformed the A&W his parents owned since the sixties into Culver's Frozen Custard. Its founder's family inspired the menu for the initial Sauk City, Wisconsin, restaurant. When Culver's mother made hamburgers, she would put a dab of butter on the crown of the hamburger buns before toasting them; something her children felt made them taste better. Today, employees at each Culver's location use the same technique when making their ButterBurgers. There are Culver's locations in twelve states. All Culver's franchisees are owner/operators.
     
    We’re looking for leaders with the initiative and skills to take a team of people and operate a Culver’s according to our high standards. You need energy and enthusiasm. You have to be willing to work hard. You have to love people and believe, as we do, that having a great heart is also good business.

    Culver’s has grown to over 500 restaurants in 22 states.

    Culver's is leading the way in the industry and in our communities. If you are craving a restaurant business made to order for you, where your financial success is directly related to how well you and your team execute against Culver’s mission that every guest who chooses Culver’s leaves happy, we invite you to consider becoming a Culver’s franchisee.

    Seeking new franchise units in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming

    "Entrepreneur


    #9 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #5 in Franchise 500 for 2021